Developing research partnerships to bring change: experiences from REACH Trust, Malawi

Drawing on the experiences of REACH Trust, this paper highlights practical lessons of using research processes and outcomes to promote equity in health policy and practice. The REACH Trust is first introduced. Case studies are then used to highlight how REACH Trust has worked in a participatory manner with key stakeholders at community, national and international levels. In addition to participatory working there are a number of cross-cutting themes that facilitate the uptake of research findings which is discussed in turn: (1) multi-disciplinary and multi-method approaches (2) advocating research findings at strategic forums, and (3) the use of strategic frames. In the conclusion it is argued that research has a critical role to play in responding to the urgent need for the Malawian health sector to develop and act on evidence-based practice in a more gender equitable and pro-poor manner.